His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivering his remarks to the gathering at the Jokhang in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India on July 4, 2018. (Photo courtesy: Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL)

(TibetanReview.net, Jul04, 2018) – The people of Ladakh turned up in huge number in their festive best to greet Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as he arrived at his Shiwatsel Phodrang residence in capital Leh on Jul 3 for an expected 19-day stay. He will give a series of religious teachings and take a bit of rest during his stay away from the monsoon of the plains.

Those who greeted him as he landed at Leh airport included members of this Jammu & Kashmir state region’s religious groups as well as individuals, political leaders and others. They included members of the Ladakh Buddhist Association and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council; the Gaden Trisur Rizong Rinpoche, Taklung Matru Rinpoche, Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, and Thigse Rinpoche; members of the All Ladakh Gonpa Association and the Ladakh Ama Association; besides the District Commissioner, the area’s police chief, members of the Ladakh Muslim community and local representatives.

“Since the weather here is warm and dry, I thought it would be good for my joint pain if I stayed here for some time,” he was quoted as telling the gathering at the Shiwatsel Phodrang.

He has spoken of having recently met with members of a group called Tawang Foundation whose members apprised him about their plans to transform all the monasteries from Ladakh to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh into serious centres of learning.

He has said that since, like other religious traditions, the Buddhadharma teaches about love, compassion and tolerance, it was still not only relevant but necessary.

From Jul 10 to 12, the Dalai Lama will give teachings on Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisatva’s Way of Life (Tibetan: Chodjug). He will also participate in the Yarcho Chenmo, the annual ‘Summer Buddhist Council’ of philosophical debate and discussion. And from Jul 18 to 20 he will be at Samstanling Gonpa Sumoor in Nubra. There will also be teachings in Nubra and on Leh’s Shiwatsel teaching ground.